पीयमाने तु सर्वस्मिंस्तोयेडपि सलिलेश्वर: । सुहृद्धिर्भिक्षमाणो 5पि नैवामुज्चत तां तदा,“जब सारा जल पीया जाने लगा, तब सुहृदोंने जलेश्वर वरुणसे प्रार्थना की तो भी वे भद्राको न छोड़ सके
pīyamāne tu sarvasmiṃs toye 'pi salileśvaraḥ | suhṛdbhir bhikṣamāṇo 'pi naivāmucata tāṃ tadā ||
Khi toàn bộ nước đang bị uống cạn, ngay cả Varuṇa—chúa tể của thủy giới—dẫu được những người bạn thiện tâm khẩn khoản cầu xin, vẫn không chịu thả nàng vào lúc ấy.
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension between rightful appeal and uncompromising authority: even sincere collective entreaty may fail against a powerful holder of control, thereby forcing a deeper consideration of what action is justified when persuasion and request do not work.
As the waters are being drained/consumed, Varuṇa—identified as the lord of waters—is approached and implored by well-wishers, yet he still refuses to release the woman referred to (Bhadrā per the accompanying gloss), maintaining his hold despite the worsening situation.